The Dhaka bourse closed the week's last session in the red, extending its losing streak to three consecutive sessions.Geographic Reference

Apart from a correction in the broad index, turnover value remained insignificant as investors stayed hesitant about fresh participation amid intensifying macroeconomic tensions and the lowest credit growth of 4.47 per cent.

The market opened the day's session positively, but the DSEX, the broad index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), soon lost its momentum.

The DSEX eventually closed at 5,515 points, down 22 points from the previous session, while turnover value rose 4.75 per cent to Tk 5.44 billion.

The broad index lost 52 points over the last three sessions.

Insiders said both the newly emerging macroeconomic tensions and issues linked to regulatory inspections had made investors worried about the future direction of the capital market.

There are fears of a further rise in inflation following a fresh surge in oil prices in the global market. International oil prices crossed $100 per barrel this week.

Consumers will have to bear the adjusted prices of products following the rise in oil prices. For example, the association of the country's bakery owners has already decided to adjust the prices of bakery products from Saturday.

As a result, fresh worries over rising expenditure on basic needs weighed on investors.

All sectors of listed companies, except mutual funds, declined marginally on the premier bourse on Thursday.

Grameenphone, British American Tobacco Bangladesh and Square Pharmaceuticals were among the top index draggers.

As the majority of blue-chip stocks declined, the DS30 index lost 7.71 points to close at 2,095 points.

Meanwhile, investors are awaiting disclosures of quarterly statements for July-September with bated breath.

Manufacturers, who have been enduring a steep energy crisis and may have cut production as a result, are likely to report compromised bottom-line growth.

According to insiders, some regulatory measures, such as the exchange's move toward more frequent inspections of brokerage firms, have also played a role in reducing speculative transactions.

Mutual funds dominated the list of top 10 gainers on Thursday. All funds saw appreciation as investors took positions ahead of liquidation to realise profits based on NAV (net asset value).

CAPM BDBL Mutual Fund 01 was the top gainer, rising 9.72 per cent, while Reliance Insurance was the worst performer, declining 3.96 per cent on the DSE.

The momentum behind the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) should be turned into tangible joint-venture manufacturing and foreign investment, said South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-joon.

He stressed the need to ensure a level playing field for formal investors and introduce a more investment-friendly tariff structure to attract greater Korean investment.

Kim made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Navigating the National Budget 2026-2027: Opportunities for Business and Investors” at Sheraton Dhaka in Banani on September 9.

The Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KBCCI) organised the seminar, according to a press release.

The ambassador also called for integrated industrial clusters, predictable incentives for joint ventures, and simpler visa and work-permit procedures for foreign experts.

He urged stronger digital links among customs, ports, banks and tax authorities, along with effective investor aftercare and reliable energy supplies.

Kim reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to being a long-term partner of Bangladesh in investment, technology transfer and manufacturing know-how.

Welcoming the participants, Shahab Uddin Khan, president of KBCCI, said changes in tax, value-added tax (VAT), customs duties and import policies directly affect business costs, investment decisions and future planning.

He reaffirmed KBCCI’s commitment to strengthening Bangladesh-Korea economic ties through greater trade and investment, joint ventures, technology transfer and industrial cooperation.

Snehashish Barua, a chartered accountant and a director of SMAC Advisory Services Ltd, delivered a keynote titled “Finance Act 2026 Unveiled: Analysis of Key Tax, VAT, Customs & Regulatory Changes”.

He provided a practical analysis of major fiscal and regulatory changes and their implications for businesses and investors.

Md Moazzem Hossain, member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and Nahian Rahman Rochi, executive member of Invest Bangladesh, attended the event as special guests.

The seminar provided a platform for dialogue between policymakers and the private sector and explored new opportunities for businesses and investors. It also highlighted KBCCI’s role in strengthening the longstanding economic ties between Bangladesh and South Korea.

Do-Kee Park (Harry), chief executive officer of KBCCI, was also present, among others.

The government has stepped up its oversight of public financial management, issuing a strict directive to all government ministries, divisions, and institutions to revise and update their budget-implementation plans (BIPs), according to the finance ministry.

Under the initiative, the finance ministry has asked various state agencies, including ministries, divisions, and other government entities, to urgently revise their BIPs to align public spending with the government's election manifesto, reform agenda, and priority programmes for the fiscal year 2026-27.

"The ministry also sent the instruction to the cabinet secretary, comptroller and auditor general, chief election commissioner, and secretaries of more than 20 ministries and divisions, including home, planning, finance, economic relations, railways, disaster management, foreign affairs, education, and youth and sports," an official involved in the matter said.

The Finance Division has set September 15 as the deadline for completing the exercise and updating the plans in the iBAS++ BIP module, according to a directive issued on September 7.

The directive comes as the government moves to strengthen monitoring of budget execution and ensure that spending plans are consistent with its newly set policy priorities.

The Finance Division said the FY27 budget was prepared considering the government's election manifesto, reform programmes, and priority areas. It also noted that ministries and divisions had already prepared their annual procurement plans (APPs) in line with the government's priority programmes.

They have, therefore, been instructed to review their existing BIPs and make necessary changes so that the budget implementation plans are consistent with the APPs and government priorities.

The instruction was issued under Section 15 of the Government Financial and Budget Management Act 2009, which provides for regular monitoring of progress in budget implementation.

The Finance Division said the methodology and necessary forms for preparing BIPs were incorporated into Budget Circular-1 issued on April 20 this year. The BIP module has also been developed in the iBAS++ system for ministries, divisions, and other government institutions.

The latest instruction effectively seeks to bring budget execution, procurement, and government priorities under a common implementation framework, allowing the Finance Division to monitor whether spending is progressing according to approved plans.

The ministries and divisions have been asked to complete the revised BIPs and inform the Finance Division by September 15.

The government formulated a Tk 9.38 trillion national budget for FY27, with Tk 3.0 trillion earmarked for the annual development programme (ADP).

When contacted, a senior official of the finance ministry said the move signalled the government's bid to enforce greater financial discipline and closer oversight of budget execution, particularly by linking procurement plans with the policy priorities reflected in the FY27 budget.

A unit of the 1,600-megawatt Adani power plant in India's Jharkhand has shut down following "technical fault" that further tightened Bangladesh's power-supply situation amid ongoing gas, coal and liquid-fuel shortages.

Sources say the shutdown has cut down the plant's generation by more than half.

The plant was generating more than 1,400 megawatts on Thursday night before one of its units went offline around midnight.

By Friday noon, its generation had fallen to 736mw, according to sources at Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB).

At 3:00am on Thursday, grid supply came down to 12,907 megawatts against 15,776 MWs in demand, leaving a 2,869mw shortfall.

Officials familiar with the plant said a technical glitch had developed in the boiler of one of its units. "The boiler may take around 48 hours to cool before repair can begin, meaning it could take several days for generation to return to normal."

The BPDB signed a power-purchase agreement with the plant authority in 2017. The plant has supplied more than 1,500 megawatts at times, based on Bangladesh's demand.

Meanwhile, the country's power generation has come under increasing pressure for worsening energy shortage and technical glitches at some power plants.

According to BPDB sources, the gas shortage has persisted for more than two months, reducing generation from gas-fired power plants by up to 1,500 MWs. Several coal-fired plants are also operating below capacity due to fuel shortages and technical problems.

Latest generation data show that BPDB generates 13,000-14,000 MWs against peak-hour demand exceeding 16,000 MWs, leaving a significant supply deficit. Current production relies primarily on gas-fired plants (5,000 MWs), coal-fired units (4,500 MWs), and liquid-fuel plants (2,000-3,000 MWs).

Generation at the Payra power plant in Patuakhali has also been affected, with one unit remaining offline for several days due to coal shortages and a technical fault. Another power plant in Patuakhali is also facing a coal shortage.

Sources said authorities were trying to offset the shortfall by increasing generation from oil-fired power plants to make do with.

However, the additional generation has not been sufficient to fully ease the pressure on the power-supply system.

Load shedding has also increased as electricity demand rises with higher temperatures even at the fag-end of the outgoing summer.

Despite Friday being a weekly holiday, load shedding exceeded 2,500 MWs in the morning. It later fell to 414 MWs at about 2:00pm as generation increased.

The shutdown of one of Adani's units, along with fuel shortages and technical glitches at other plants, is likely to put additional pressure on the country's power- supply system over the coming days.

Bangladesh received $6.85 billion in remittances from July 1 to September 9 of fiscal year 2026-27, up 15.9 percent year-on-year, according to Bangladesh Bank data released Thursday.

The country received $5.918 billion during the same period of FY26.

Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries sent home $1.031 billion in remittances in the first nine days of September 2026, up 1.3 percent from $1.018 billion during the corresponding period a year earlier, the central bank data showed.

On September 9 alone, the country received $127 million in remittances.

Bangladesh received $35.34 billion in remittances through formal banking channels in FY26.

US-Bangla Airlines plans to place another major order for leased aircraft worth $4-5 billion within the next 60 days, Managing Director Abdullah Al Mamin said today (12 September).

"We will order more leased aircraft worth $4-5 billion within the next 60 days," he said at a policy conclave titled "World-class aviation for Bangladesh's economic progress", organised by The Daily Bonik Barta at the United Convention Centre in Kurmitola, Dhaka.

However, Al Mamin did not disclose how many aircraft would be leased under the planned deal.

Asked about the aircraft manufacturer, Al Mamin told The Business Standard that the airline could not disclose at this stage whether the aircraft would be supplied by Boeing or Airbus.

Earlier, US-Bangla announced plans to acquire 21 Boeing aircraft through a $1.5 billion leasing deal as part of a major fleet expansion programme.

US-Bangla unveils $1.5b leasing deal to add 21 Boeing aircraft
The announcement was made on 29 July at the airline's "Beyond with Boeing" event in Dhaka.

The deal includes 15 Boeing 737-8 aircraft and six Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with all 21 aircraft scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027.

US-Bangla currently operates 25 aircraft, making it the largest fleet among Bangladesh's local airlines.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the event as the chief guest, while State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was the special guest.

Former Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) Mahmud Hussain also attended the event.

Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hainf Mahmud delivered the welcome speech.

The conclave was supported by AirAsia, United Group and US-Bangla Airlines.

Foreign investors accelerated their sell-off in the capital market in August, cutting holdings in several fundamental and large-cap stocks despite recent regulatory measures aimed at easing foreign investment.

According to Dhaka Stock Exchange data, City Bank saw the sharpest decline, with foreign ownership falling 1.72 percentage points to 8.26%, involving a Tk90 crore sell-off. BRAC Bank followed with a 0.57-point drop to 32.39% and a Tk80 crore exit.

Prime Bank's foreign holding fell 0.35 points to 5.36% (Tk12.30 crore), while Uttara Bank declined 0.17 points to 0.45% (Tk4 crore).

Foreign investors also reduced exposure to major blue-chip and multinational stocks. Grameenphone saw holdings fall 0.08 points to 0.17% (Tk26 crore), while Square Pharma declined 0.04 points to 14.33% (Tk7.5 crore).

Other sell-offs were recorded in Olympic Industries (Tk5 crore), BAT Bangladesh (Tk2.5 crore), Walton (Tk1.2 crore), LafargeHolcim Bangladesh (Tk1.20 crore), Summit Alliance Port (Tk0.71 crore), Shasha Denims (Tk0.55 crore), Envoy Textile (Tk0.47 crore), IDLC Finance (Tk0.40 crore) and Reckitt Benckiser (Tk0.15 crore).

Foreign buying remained muted, with small purchases in Acme Laboratories (Tk0.16 crore), LankaBangla Finance (Tk0.08 crore), Orion Pharma (Tk0.05 crore) and Ring Shine Textile.

The continued outflow comes despite recent policy measures to attract overseas capital. Bangladesh Bank removed the requirement for an auditor's certificate for every non-resident trade, allowing authorised dealer banks to process tax withholding directly into Non-Resident Investor Taka Accounts (NITA).

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission also relaxed dividend remittance deadlines for foreign shareholders, linking compliance to the issuance of Double Taxation Avoidance certificates. Meanwhile, MSCI will resume regular index reviews for Bangladesh from November 2026, ending its three-year "special treatment" following the 2022 floor price regime.

Market experts said foreign sentiment has nevertheless been weakened by recent regulatory decisions. They cited concerns over policy consistency following the removal of former Governor Ahsan H Mansur, as well as Bangladesh Bank's requirement for banks to have at least Tk2,000 crore in paid-up capital to declare dividends and its 4% cap on interest-rate spreads.

Analysts said such administrative interventions risk pushing the financial system towards a command-style economy, weakening market-based decision-making and encouraging global investors to shift funds elsewhere.

The government will import 18 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from France-based energy company TotalEnergies over the next nine months, with two cargoes scheduled each month from October this year to June next year.

The government may also purchase additional LNG cargoes from the company if needed, subject to mutual agreement between the two sides.

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the LNG procurement proposal at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today (9 September).

The LNG will be procured through the direct purchase method for international procurement.

Each LNG cargo from TotalEnergies will be priced at the Japan Korea Marker (JKM) plus $0.06 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), according to the government.

The rate is slightly lower than the price agreed with US-based Gunvor for 14 LNG cargoes to be imported between 2026 and 2028. Under that arrangement, the price was set at JKM plus $0.0875 per MMBtu.

The TotalEnergies procurement received policy approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to meet urgent gas demand amid heightened geopolitical instability stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Ministry of Finance's Public Relations Department.

Bangladesh has long-term LNG supply agreements with Qatar and Oman. However, supplies under the contracts have been disrupted amid the Iran conflict, contributing to the country's ongoing gas shortage.

Against this backdrop, the government has been buying LNG from the spot market at relatively high prices while seeking alternative sources to bolster supplies.

As part of that effort, the government has also approved a proposal to sign a long-term LNG import agreement with US-based Gunvor through 2038.

Under the approved arrangement, Bangladesh will import 14 LNG cargoes from Gunvor between 2026 and 2028 at JKM plus $0.0875 per MMBtu.

The United States banned a broad swath of Canadian alcoholic beverages, motorcycles and dairy products from import on Tuesday, sharply escalating an already acrimonious trade spat.

The import bans, which go into effect on September 29 and were published on the White House’s website, came after Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs on US goods took effect after midnight on Tuesday.
Those Canadian levies themselves followed 50 percent tariffs that the United States imposed on some $20 billion of Canadian goods last month, after several rounds of negotiations collapsed.The breakdown has widened a rift between the longtime allies, who have blamed each other for the failed talks, spurred Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to urge a further shift away from Canada’s biggest trading partner, and cast doubt on the viability of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.“We have everything we need to pivot and prosper,” Carney said on Tuesday in a video posted on YouTube. “That pivot will come at a cost. There’s always a cost to action. But it doesn’t come close to the cost of standing still,” he said.

The import bans came after Canada’s own retaliatory tariffs on US goods took effect after midnight on Tuesday

The US bans appeared to cover most alcohol products, including beer and various types of wine, whisky, bourbon, rum, vodka, vermouth, tequila, mezcal, and brandy. The dairy ban covers whey protein, invert molasses, cane molasses and non-alcoholic beer, per notices on the White House’s website. In addition to the import bans, various cheese products were added to a list of products subject to a 50 percent tariff, but not banned outright.

Some paper, aluminum, wood, furniture, lighting and other products were also added to the list.

A US official said President Donald Trump’s pre-existing threat to increase tariffs on Canadian autos from 25 percent to 50 percent on January 1 remained in effect.

The official added that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had spoken with Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for bilateral US trade, over the past couple of days, and the pair were expected to speak again in the coming days to see if there was an alternative path for the two countries.

In a social media post on Tuesday night, LeBlanc criticized the latest US measures and said he was in contact with Greer regarding a path forward.

“As has been the case for the last 18 months, our first priority remains on protecting and supporting Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses from these unjustified actions,” he wrote.

OTTAWA STRIKES BACK

Ottawa’s retaliatory measures, which in turn provoked Washington’s move on Tuesday night, were designed to put economic and political pressure on Washington, Canadian government officials said.

Those counter-tariffs cover some $20 billion of US goods, with duties ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent across products from steel and furniture to clothing and electronics, and are expected to hit sectors in some competitive states such as Michigan and Ohio, ahead of US midterm elections in November.

While the tariffs affect a small amount of exports compared with total trade between the US and Canada, some analysts worry the standoff could destabilize the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the free-trade pact that succeeded NAFTA.

Together they have underpinned commerce across North America for decades.

“What we are worried about is an escalatory spiral,” said Michael Harvey, executive director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and a member of Carney’s advisory committee on bilateral US economic relations.

“But at the same time, we totally understand that the prime minister needs to find areas of leverage.”

Trump has been lobbing various attacks at Canada on Truth Social in recent days.
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On Monday, he said Canadian private jet maker Bombardier would no longer be allowed to sell its planes in the United States unless it started manufacturing in the country.

He also shared a map of North America draped in the US flag, including Canada and Mexico, and an AI-generated image reviving a running jab at Carney, calling him “Governor,” a reference to his repeated taunt that Canada should become the 51st US state.

On Tuesday, hours before the latest import bans, Trump directed the General Services Administration, a US government body responsible for providing services for the federal government, to coordinate with the US Trade Representative and “REMOVE Canadian-origin products from GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules unless Canada restores full and fair reciprocity for American Farmers and Companies.”

VARIOUS SECTORS HIT

Trump’s tariffs implemented last month hit sectors including wine, furniture, dairy products, cement, clothing, fishing rods and hockey equipment, covering $20 billion, or 5 percent, of Canadian exports to the US.

A Sapporo spokesperson said the brewer is considering moving a limited amount of production of non-alcoholic drinks from Canada to the US due to tariff risks, but no final decision has been made.

Sapporo owns Ontario-based Sleeman Breweries.

Canada accounts for more than half of the Japanese firm’s overseas beer sales.

According to Canadian and US government data, Canada has shipped almost 68 percent of total exports to the US this year, out of which roughly 80 percent moved duty-free due to exemptions under the USMCA pact.

Protections under the agreement have provided the domestic economy some resilience.

Last month’s tariffs, imposed under a Depression-era US law, do not allow Ottawa to exercise USMCA exemptions.

Concerns about the USMCA’s future have fueled uncertainty about investment and growth, as Canada wages a trade war against an economy 13 times its size.

Polls also show Carney has broad support from Canadians, but that could disappear within months as the consequences of the trade war sink in, according to political analysts.

A new poll from Angus Reid on Tuesday showed that approval of Carney’s performance jumped 11 points to 62 percent from an August poll.

Meanwhile, just 20 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Trump threatened last month to raise US tariffs on all cars, trucks and automotive parts from Canada to 50 percent starting January 1, and signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America.

Ten banks accounted for more than 72 percent of the banking sector’s total non-performing loans, according to the central bank, showing that the country’s 61 commercial lenders are not equally responsible for the sector’s financial distress.

As of June this year, bad loans in the banking sector stood at a whopping Tk 6,06,555 crore, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bank (BB). Of this, the 10 distressed lenders held Tk 4,39,527 crore in NPLs.

The lenders are Islami Bank Bangladesh, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank, IFIC Bank, National Bank, AB Bank, First Security Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, Social Islami Bank and Union Bank.

In terms of volume, Islami Bank Bangladesh has the highest level of bad loans in the banking sector. Until June this year, its NPLs stood at around Tk 98,914 crore, or 52.15 percent of its disbursed loans.

The bank was taken over by S Alam Group in 2017. The controversial conglomerate later extended around 80 percent of the bank’s total loans to its own companies and associated firms, violating banking rules and regulations.

After the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024 in an uprising, the bank was freed from the group’s control and is now operating under the supervision of the BB.

At the end of December last year, Islami Bank’s bad loans stood at Tk 92,115 crore, or 49 percent of its disbursed loans. In the six months to June, its bad loans increased by Tk 6,799 crore, according to BB data.

Contacted, Md Altaf Hossain, acting managing director of Islami Bank, said that a large share of its defaulted loans is linked to the S Alam Group, with recovery remaining minimal.

He said that the bank is trying to recover loans from other borrowers, but progress has been limited.

“We are trying to recover the loans through cash payments and rescheduling. When we find no other way, we ultimately resort to filing cases against the customers,” Altaf told The Daily Star.

The acting managing director said the bank regularised Tk 5,885 crore this year through rescheduling, while it recovered Tk 749 crore from classified loans.

Scam-hit Janata Bank ranked second in terms of bad loan volume. Its NPLs stood at Tk 75,729 crore, or 75 percent of its disbursed loans.

Seeking anonymity, Janata Bank officials told The Daily Star that a major portion of the bank’s bad loans is concentrated among a small number of powerful business groups.

They said that about 80 percent of its bad loans are stuck with its top 20 defaulters, including Beximco, S Alam and AnonTex.

Beximco Group alone accounted for about Tk 25,000 crore of the bank’s exposure. Other major defaulters include Crescent Group and Thermex Group.

Agrani Bank, another state-run lender, also struggles with a heavy NPL burden. Its NPLs stood at Tk 32,133 crore, or 43.98 percent of its disbursed loans, show BB data.

At EXIM Bank, bad loans stood at Tk 38,052.53 crore, nearly 71 percent of its total disbursed loans, according to central bank data.

The bank was largely influenced by Nazrul Islam Mazumder, chairman of Nassa Group and former chairman of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB). Lending irregularities and weak corporate governance have pushed the lender towards a merger with four other troubled banks.

Among lenders linked to the S Alam Group, First Security Islami Bank reported NPLs of Tk 60,645 crore, or 97 percent of its total disbursed loans.

Social Islami Bank’s bad loans stood at Tk 29,799 crore, or 78 percent of its disbursed loans, while Union Bank’s NPLs stood at Tk 27,134 crore, or 96 percent of its disbursed loans.

The boards of the two lenders were also largely dominated by the S Alam Group.

AB Bank’s NPLs stood at Tk 20,325 crore, or 56.04 percent, while National Bank reported Tk 28,276 crore, or 65.46 percent, according to BB data.

Bad loans at IFIC Bank stood at Tk 28,520 crore, or 63.38 percent of its disbursed loans. The bank was dominated by Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group and an influential adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Md Ezazul Islam, director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), said the country’s NPL situation shows that the problem is concentrated in a handful of Islamic and state-owned banks.

“The main reason for the rise in NPLs is that loans have become concentrated among a small number of corporate borrowers. The banking sector needs to move away from this excessive loan concentration,” he told The Daily Star.

Ezazul, a former official of the central bank, said that around 10 percentage points of the banking sector’s NPL ratio, which has now reached 30 percent, can be attributed to economic factors, while the remaining 20 percentage points are the result of willful default, irregularities and corruption.

The value of internet banking transactions in Bangladesh grew by 6.22 percent month-on-month to Tk 1.84 lakh crore in June 2026, driven mainly by sharp increases in two payment systems, according to a recent central bank report.

The total had stood at Tk 1.73 lakh crore in May 2026.
The transactional values of Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) rose while Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN) fell, according to the e-Banking and e-Commerce Statistics review by Bangladesh Bank.RTGS, NPSB and BEFTN are BB-operated interbank payment systems, but they serve different purposes.

BEFTN is for scheduled batch transfers, NPSB is for real-time card and account transactions, and RTGS is for high-value, instant gross settlement-- all three route transactions among the country’s scheduled banks and mobile financial service providers.

Among the individual channels, RTGS transactions rose 26.09 percent to Tk 50,461 crore in June, up from Tk 40,022 crore in May. NPSB transactions increased 2.70 percent to Tk 57,480 crore in June from Tk 55,967 crore in May, the report showed.

BEFTN transfers, by contrast, declined to Tk 11,638 crore in June from Tk 12,987 crore in May. “It is clear that a large number of customers are using internet banking to access financial services,” BB said in the report.

However, the total number of internet banking customers fell slightly during the same period, decreasing 0.64 percent to 2.27 crore in June from 2.28 crore in May.

The data also showed that among the internet banking customer base, 1.78 crore were male, 44 lakh were female, and 4.7 lakh were registered under “other” in June.

As of June, 58 scheduled banks were offering internet banking services in the country.

Benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose past $100 a barrel on Wednesday, hitting a more than six-week high and breaching the symbolic threshold for the first time since July 24 as intensifying conflict in the Middle East heightened concerns about oil flows from the region.

Brent crude futures were up $2.01, or 2.05 percent, at $99.93 a barrel by 0802 GMT, after earlier touching $100.19, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.49, or 1.60 percent, at $94.52 a barrel.
Brent crude prices have risen by a quarter since early last month as hopes fade for a permanent resolution to the six-month-old US-Iran conflict.Since the Iran war began on February 28, Brent has surged as high as $126.41 a barrel, a peak reached on April 30.

This week, attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi energy facilities set oil installations ablaze, threatening a significant expansion of the conflict.

The attacks also threaten crude shipments via the Red Sea, which has been a key alternative route to the crucial Strait of Hormuz, where oil flows have been severely curtailed since the February 28 start of the Iran war.

Market participants appear to be pricing in a more prolonged conflict in the Middle East as well as the risk that the latest escalation in military strikes disrupts oil flows from the Middle East, said Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

The key risk is whether the recent attacks on oil tankers lead to fewer ship-to-ship transfers taking place in the Gulf of Oman, which have so far played a key role in providing oil to global markets and keeping a lid on prices.

A growing number of banks, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and HSBC, have raised their crude price forecasts in recent days.

In the week before a resumption in fighting on August 30, roughly 8 million to 9 million bpd had flowed through Hormuz, double the previous week's volume, according to Rystad Energy's Chief Economist Claudio Galimberti, although more recently it had fallen below 2 million bpd.

I think the market is trying to treat this rise in energy prices as a one-off. It's not. This is structural. It's not going away, and it's part of what I would argue as a security premium. And it's only going to get bigger, said Jeffrey Currie, co-chairman at Abaxx Markets.

While non-OPEC oil producers including the United States, Canada and Guyana have ramped up output, the International Energy Agency said last month it expected global oil supply would fall this year by 4.3 million bpd, or about 4 percent.

US President Trump has announced new import bans and 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods as tensions between the two countries intensify. This comes a day after Ottawa's retaliatory tariffs on US products took effect.Canadian dairy products, motorcycles and alcoholic beverages face import bans in the United States, while other goods from across the border will be hit with 50% tariffs, the White House said Tuesday, as President Donald Trump escalates a trade war with Ottawa.
The import ban is scheduled to take effect on September 29.

Trump also ordered a 50% tariff on additional Canadian goods, including mattresses, motorboats and golf carts, starting September 15.The latest moves came after Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on about $20 billion (€17.2 billion) of US goods on Monday, following Washington's decision last month to levy 50% tariffs on selected Canadian imports.
Why is Trump imposing an import ban?

The White House said the alcohol ban was partly in response to provincial boycotts of US alcohol. Canadian provinces have removed many US wines and spirits from store shelves amid a widespread boycott of American goods, a move Trump called "discriminatory."

"President Trump is doing this to make sure, again, that we keep a level playing field, deter retaliation, and of course protect American production," a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on a call.

Trump also directed the US General Services Administration to exclude Canadian products from its long-term government procurement contracts unless Ottawa restores what he called "full and fair reciprocity" for American farmers and companies.

On Monday, Trump threatened to block Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier from selling planes in the US unless it manufactures them in the United States.
What did Canadian Prime Minister Carney say?

Nearly 68% of Canadian exports headed to the US this year, with about 80% of those shipments entering duty-free under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) exemptions, data showed.

However, the latest escalation also cast a shadow on the future of the three-nation trade pact.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country would accelerate efforts to reduce its dependence on the US.

"It's about ensuring that no country can hold us hostage. And that we can live how we want to live," Carney said on Tuesday.

Aside from tariffs, Canadians were also irked by Trump's repeated reference to their country as the 51st US state and an order renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
Trump pushes Canada toward EU

Trump wielding tariffs as a tool to force smaller partners to agree to lower tariffs in return for market access, investment pledges or alignment with US policy has other governments watching to see how Canada's standing up to Trump plays out.

Recent developments have pushed Ottawa to explore a deeper relationship with the European Union.

Next week, Carney is due in Strasbourg, France, and scheduled address the European Parliament.

Parliament today (9 September) passed the Bank Resolution (Amendment) Act, 2026, abolishing a provision that allowed former directors or owners of merged or merger-bound banks to regain ownership.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury moved the amendment bill, which was passed by voice vote. Deputy Speaker Kaisar Kamal presided over the session.

The amendment repeals Section 18A of the Bank Resolution Act, 2026, which had allowed former owners or directors of banks undergoing or listed for merger to regain ownership by paying 7.5% upfront of the money invested by the government or Bangladesh Bank. The remaining 92.5% was to be repaid within two years with 10% simple interest.

The provision was not included in the ordinance issued by the interim government. The current government later added it to the law, drawing widespread criticism from analysts, who said it created an opportunity for those accused of looting banks to buy back ownership in instalments.

Why the provision was scrapped

In a statement explaining the amendment, Khosru said Section 18A was introduced as a market-based alternative to existing resolution tools, allowing banks under resolution to remain operational while being restructured.

He said the provision also aimed to address capital and liquidity shortages, protect depositors and investors, reduce the government's financial exposure and account for the banking sector's prevailing conditions.

However, no individual or institution had applied after the law came into force while fulfilling all the conditions of the provision, he said. Therefore, repealing Section 18A was considered appropriate and necessary.

The minister subsequently moved the bill for passage, and it was approved by voice vote.

Brief disturbance in parliament

The amendment came amid a brief uproar after independent MP Rumeen Farhana criticised the government over rising loan defaults, saying BNP rule was historically marked by corruption and crises.

"The BNP will come to power, and there will be no gas, electricity or fertiliser crisis – that cannot happen. Bangladesh will not become the champion in corruption – that is also not possible," she said.

Government lawmakers shouted from their seats. Rumeen later questioned Section 18A, saying it could benefit lawmakers with loan-default records.

Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman criticised the disruption, saying MPs must be allowed to speak, while the Speaker could rule on any remarks deemed unparliamentary or the relevant minister could respond.

More than 10,000 customers of Sammilito Islami Bank withdrew their funds on the third day of the bank's repayment programme, taking the total number of customers paid to 26,056 over three days.

Yesterday (9 September), 10,697 customers withdrew a total of Tk381 crore.

Since the repayment programme began, 26,056 customers have withdrawn a total of Tk1,040 crore over three days. At the same time, fresh funds have continued to flow into the bank alongside the repayments to customers.

Earlier, among customers who applied to withdraw funds on 1 September, 8,125 withdrew a total of Tk319 crore on 7 September.

On that day, the bank received Tk93 crore in cash and another Tk51 crore through RTGS, BFTN and clearing, bringing total inflows to Tk141 crore. A total of 16,600 transactions were completed through cash and other channels that day.

Among customers who applied on 2 September, 7,234 withdrew a total of Tk340 crore on 8 September.

The bank received Tk90 crore in cash and Tk105 crore through BFTN, RTGS and clearing that day, resulting in total inflows of Tk195 crore. A total of 16,050 transactions were completed.

Overall, 58,745 customers applied between 1 and 3 September to withdraw a total of Tk3,304 crore. Against these applications, 26,056 customers withdrew Tk1,040 crore between 7 and 9 September.

This means around 31.5% of the amount applied for has so far been paid to customers.

The bank authorities said funds continue to flow into the bank alongside customer repayments. Regular transactions through personal accounts are continuing as normal and will remain operational.

The bank also said repayments are being made according to customers' applications. A significant number of customers are withdrawing their funds every day, while the flow of funds into the bank and normal banking operations continue.

Bangladesh has set a target to generate at least 20% of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30% by 2040 to curb dependence on imported fuels and prioritise renewable energy to meet growing demand, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told parliament today (9 September).

Under the government's National Renewable Energy Development Strategy for 2026-2030, he said, the country aims to generate 5,500 megawatts of electricity from rooftop solar systems and 4,500MW from ground-mounted solar projects by 2030.

Another 450MW to 550MW is targeted from wind, waste-to-energy, hydropower, floating solar, and agrivoltaics, among other technologies, he added.

The prime minister disclosed the targets in a written response to a question from Meherpur-1 MP Md Tajuddin Khan during the question-answer session of the third session of the 13th parliament.

"Considering the country's growing electricity demand, the government has identified renewable energy as a priority sector to reduce dependence on imported fuel," said the prime minister.

The prime minister also said the government has also introduced incentives to encourage electricity generation from renewable sources, including conditional exemptions from various duties and taxes on solar panels, inverters, batteries and supporting structures used for solar installations.

He said the maximum generation cost for rooftop solar systems with batteries was set at Tk8 per unit on 1 September 2026.

As part of a special incentive package, the government has fixed the purchase price of electricity supplied to the national grid at Tk10.50 per unit, taking into account a 20% profit margin on generation cost and an 11.25% premium.

Under the notification, consumers who install rooftop solar systems by 28 February 2027 in accordance with the Net Metering Guideline 2025 and supply surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting their own consumption needs will receive Tk10.50 per unit for the following three years, until 28 February 2030.

The prime minister also told parliament that the government has formulated several policies and guidelines to expand renewable energy.

These include the "Guideline for Development of Renewable Energy Projects on Land Owned by Government Agencies under the PPP Model, 2026," the "Policy for Increasing Private Participation in Renewable Energy-Based Power Generation, 2025," the "Renewable Energy Policy, 2025," the "Net Metering Guideline, 2025" and the "National Rooftop Solar Programme, 2025."

He said guidelines have also been formulated on business models for waste-to-energy generation, onshore wind development and carbon credit processing.

Capital market stakeholders have urged the government to allow listed companies to buy back their own shares and streamline merger and acquisition (M&A) processes through amendments to the Companies Act, 1994.

In a letter to the Ministry of Commerce, the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA), the platform of Dhaka Stock Exchange brokerage houses, called for specific provisions on share buybacks and M&A in the proposed third amendment to the law.

The DBA also urged the government to empower the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to formulate and enforce rules on the issues to ensure effective regulation and investor protection.

Currently, listed companies have no mechanism to repurchase their shares when prices fall sharply during periods of market volatility. The absence of a comprehensive M&A framework also forces companies to seek court approval, resulting in lengthy delays.

"Every country has laws governing share buybacks, but Bangladesh has none. As a result, many cash-rich companies cannot repurchase their shares even when prices fall. Consequently, there is no market support during a downturn," DBA President Saiful Islam told TBS.

He added that if this law is enacted, companies will be able to buy their own shares, providing crucial support during periods of market volatility.

Under current regulations, sponsors and directors can purchase shares when prices fall, but such purchases increase their personal stakes rather than directly benefiting the company, he said.

"Allowing companies to execute share buybacks would deliver direct value to the firm," Saiful said, adding that the DBA had urged the government to include buyback provisions in the Companies Act.

He also called for a dedicated M&A framework to reduce legal complexities and speed up transactions.

"M&As currently require court approvals, which is a time-consuming process. Having dedicated laws or regulations would enable faster mergers and acquisitions," he said.

DBA seeks greater BSEC oversight

In its letter to Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, the DBA proposed allowing listed companies to conduct share buybacks, with BSEC empowered to formulate rules and oversee their implementation.

It also called for BSEC to be given authority to regulate mergers and acquisitions involving listed companies to reduce legal complexities and protect investors.

The association said empowering the capital market regulator to formulate and implement rules in these areas would ensure more effective oversight and better protection of investors and other stakeholders.

BSEC also seeks buyback provision

Separately, BSEC has called for allowing listed companies to buy back shares in the proposed amendment to the Companies Act.

The regulator also proposed modernising corporate reporting standards, requiring regulatory approval for mergers involving listed companies and extending the validity of financial statements used in prospectuses.

BSEC Executive Director Abul Kalam made the proposals at a views-exchange meeting on the draft Companies Act amendment at the FBCCI Board Room in the capital on Monday.

He said targeted revisions were needed to align the law with modern business practices, noting that several BSEC recommendations submitted on 18 December 2025 had been omitted from the current draft.

Referring to Section 58 of the existing law, which restricts companies from purchasing their own shares, Kalam urged policymakers to allow listed entities to conduct buybacks under specific conditions to improve capital management and protect shareholder interests.

On mergers, acquisitions, demergers and restructuring under Sections 228 and 229, he proposed requiring BSEC involvement when a listed company merges with an unlisted entity to protect general investors, citing similar regulatory arrangements in India.

Bangladesh and Hong Kong yesterday signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) with an aim to increase and safeguard bilateral investment.

Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, commerce minister, and Algernon Yau, secretary for commerce and economic development of Hong Kong, signed the deal during the opening session of the 11th Belt and Road Summit 2026 held in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is currently the seventh-largest source of investment in Bangladesh

The agreement is expected to further strengthen the protection of mutual investments and capital of investors from Bangladesh and Hong Kong, according to a statement from the commerce ministry.

At the same time, it is expected to create a more institutionalised investment environment between the two sides and open up new opportunities for economic cooperation.

Hong Kong is currently the seventh-largest source of investment in Bangladesh.

The new agreement is expected to help increase investment from Hong Kong in Bangladesh.

In particular, there is potential for increased investment flows into promising sectors, including the ready-made garment and textile industries.

It may be noted that Bangladesh has attracted approximately $750 million in foreign direct investment from Hong Kong over the past five years. Of this amount, $122 million was received in 2025 alone.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) edged lower today (9 September) as cautious investors remained on the sidelines amid uncertainty over the market's direction, while concerns over the country's ongoing gas and electricity crisis continued to weigh on sentiment.

The DSEX, the broad index of the DSE, fell 1 point to settle at 5,538. The blue-chip DS30 index shed 5 points to close at 2,103, while the Shariah-based DSES index gained 1 point to settle at 1,111.

Turnover fell nearly 12% to Tk520 crore from Tk590 crore in the previous session, reflecting subdued investor participation. Of the 387 securities traded, 165 advanced, 150 declined and 72 remained unchanged.

Market participants said uncertainty over the economy and corporate operations has kept investors cautious, particularly as ongoing gas and electricity shortages continue to disrupt industrial production. Concerns over the impact of the utility crisis on corporate earnings have discouraged investors from taking fresh positions.

Many investors are instead waiting for clearer signals on the market's direction and upcoming corporate earnings before increasing their exposure, market participants said.

Recent intervention by the stock exchange in large buy and sell orders has also unsettled some major individual investors, they said. Uncertainty over such interventions has prompted some investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

Meanwhile, recent inspections and investigations by the stock exchange at several brokerage houses have further weighed on market sentiment, according to market participants.

The DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh (DBA) has urged the stock exchange to avoid unnecessary harassment of brokerage houses during such exercises and maintain a balanced approach so that inspections and investigations do not disrupt their normal operations.

EBL Securities, in its daily market commentary, said the capital market remained range-bound, with the indices showing largely flat momentum throughout the session. Large-cap stocks remained under pressure amid subdued participation as investors stayed cautious about the market outlook.

The brokerage also said investors were closely watching for fresh positive catalysts that could support a sustained recovery, while uncertainty over the upcoming earnings season continued to weigh on sentiment.

Despite more stocks advancing than declining, weakness in several large-cap stocks kept the benchmark index in negative territory.

On the sectoral front, Textile stocks accounted for the largest share of turnover at 31.2%, followed by General Insurance at 13% and Banking at 11.9%.

Textile stocks posted the highest sectoral gain, rising 2%, followed by Mutual Funds at 1.6% and Jute at 1.1%. On the other hand, Ceramic stocks declined 1.4%, Life Insurance fell 0.7% and Financial Institutions lost 0.3%.

ICB AMCL Sonali Bank Limited 1st Mutual Fund was the top gainer, rising 10%. Sena Insurance gained 9.98%, while Saiham Textile Mills advanced 9.76%.

SK Trims & Industries was among the biggest losers, falling 5.11%. Metro Spinning declined 3.81%, while Golden Son lost 3.73%.

Envoy Textiles led the turnover chart, followed by Sharp Industries and Saiham Textile Mills.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also ended lower on Wednesday. The CASPI index fell 59.1 points to settle at 14,869, while the CSCX declined 42.9 points to close at 9,088. Turnover at the CSE stood at Tk87.27 crore.

Market observers said the DSE may continue to see cautious trading in the near term unless concerns over utility shortages, corporate earnings and market-related regulatory issues begin to ease.

Swisscontact, an international development organisation, has announced plans to offer advisory and technical support to promising ready-made garment (RMG) companies looking to raise long-term financing through Bangladesh's capital market.

Speaking at a workshop today (9 September), Farzana Amin, team leader of Swisscontact's Progress project, said the organisation aims to develop several RMG companies as role models over the coming year, guiding them through the process of entering the capital market.

She was speaking at a workshop titled "Expanding RMG's Financing Horizons: Opportunities in the Capital Market", jointly organised by the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Swisscontact at the DSE Training Academy.

"RMG companies need to consider capital market-based financing alongside bank loans," Farzana said, adding that Swisscontact plans to provide end-to-end support to companies interested in accessing the market.

DSE Managing Director Nuzhat Anwar said the capital market should be developed as a major source of long-term financing for private-sector businesses rather than being viewed only as an investment platform.

She stressed the need to expand financing options beyond equities and initial public offerings (IPOs), particularly through the bond market, and called for reviewing existing policy and regulatory constraints, including the use of IPO proceeds and opportunities for refinancing.

BKMEA Deputy Secretary Md Harunur Rashid said industrial companies remain heavily dependent on bank financing, which often limits their ability to raise sufficient funds for business expansion.

He said bringing viable companies to the capital market could help them expand operations, create employment and contribute to economic growth. However, maintaining sustainable business growth after listing would be essential to preserving investor confidence.

BMBA President and LankaBangla Investments CEO Iftekhar Alam discussed the process of raising long-term capital under the new listing regulations.

He explained the eligibility requirements for main-board IPOs and SME-board qualified investor offers (QIOs), company valuation, listing procedures, use of raised funds, subscription, share allocation and lock-in requirements.

DSE General Manager of the Market Development Division Saiyid Mahmud Zubayer presented an overview of the country's capital market, DSE's market infrastructure and technological capabilities, and the available equity and debt financing options.

He highlighted IPOs, QIOs, the SME platform, the bond market and direct listing as potential avenues for companies seeking funds for expansion. He also discussed how capital market participation can strengthen corporate governance and enhance a company's credibility.

DSE Chief Technology Officer Md Asifur Rahman said the exchange is providing advisory services and one-to-one counselling to entrepreneurs interested in entering the capital market.

Swisscontact Inspire project Team Leader Bidowra Tahmin Khan said the organisation would work with the DSE, BSEC and other stakeholders to provide advisory and technical assistance to promising RMG and textile companies.

She said Swisscontact has been working with the RMG and textile sectors for around two decades on compliance, skills development and green transition, and plans to use that experience to support companies seeking capital market financing. Swisscontact Bangladesh Deputy Country Director Syeda Israt Fatima and senior officials from the DSE, along with representatives of leading BKMEA member companies, attended the workshop.